Subsonic Temple
Chilled jazz at it's best!
We are very happy to present to you another awesome release from Aardvark Records. Torso's upcoming release Naked Came the She Squid, is one that you will not want to miss. A title like this has to evoke a response - either "eeeuuu" or What the ---??. Regardless, the tight jazzy compositions that Torso delivers will satisfy the most demanding audio appetites whether you are into sea food or not.
One of my favorite tracks, Equilibrium, I can't seem to get out of my head and subsequently it has remained on Subsonic's Playlist! The jazzy bassline and the haunting trumpet speak volumes for TORSO's ability to touch your euphoric nerves.
Naked Came The She Squid is a a great sounding jazzy Nicola Conte type release that gets the toes tapping and head bobbing with some trippy sound bending added to keep you guessing. Combining jazz, pop, dance and electronica is a dangerous game. Some succeed mightily in the pop realm, such as Portishead, Seal, Everything But The Girl, and Air. Many fail. Others suffer the slings of close-minded critics and fans (Herbie Hancock). The instrumental duo Torso (bassist Louis Selvitella and guitarist Lee Leffler) are firmly entrenched in the former category with the understated yet enchanting Naked Came The She Squid. Torso's in-the-pocket grooves, slinky motifs and cosmic sound-scapes blur the lines between the aforementioned genres. Post-modern jazzers and fans of Miles Davis' Doo Bop and Tutu will certainly dig the updated swing of "If You Prefer" - though this is no blow fest as the focus is on the ensemble and not the individual. The scintillating Latin flavor of "Herky" is further abetted by percolating conga beats and a series of adventurous acoustic/electric guitar call and response breaks. "Equilibrium" exudes the new cool most closely associated with Nicholas Payton and Roy Hargrove's most recent releases - that being a bitches brew of melody and rhythm.
LOUNGE / DOWNTEMPO / NU JAZZ www.aardvarkrecords.co.uk Aardvark Records NATIONAL RELEASE DATE September 2008 MARKETING
Alex di Savoia, Head of Aardvark Dance, was on the lookout for ambient, chillout and downtempo producers when the album came across his desk. While discussing the album, di Savoia said: ³Putting the whole Salem thing to one side, this album was perfect. The blend of jazz, broken beats and world sounds just grabbed me. It¹s an adult album. It¹s the right mix of polished with moments of rough edges. I couldn¹t have asked for anything better.²
This second release from Torso is an electronica/jazz/alternative hook-infested sound offering, featuring twelve instrumental songs of first-take guitar and bass improvisations, layered with an assortment of fantastic electronic sounds and beats. Just about everything has a mysterious quality that is hard to pin down but is so appealing - a bit of exotica, Eastern music influence, lounge, and minor keys. The 12 tracks don't stagnate or merge into one sound. It's a journey to please from start to finish.
Combining jazz, pop, dance and electronica takes a certain amount of chutzpah. Torso's in-the-pocket grooves, slinky motifs and cosmic sound-scapes blur the lines between the aforementioned genres. Post-modern jazzsters and fans of Miles Davis' Doo Bop and Tutu will certainly dig the updated swing of "If You Prefer². The scintillating Latin flavour of "Herky" is further abetted by percolating conga beats and a series of adventurous acoustic/electric guitar call and response breaks. "Equilibrium" exudes the new cool most closely associated with Nicholas Payton and Roy Hargrove's most recent releases
Louis and Lee met while in high school where they played in local bands together. Later they both attended classes at Berklee College of Music before forming the 1980's alternative band, Native Tongue, releasing two records on Boston independent label Modern Method and performing with bands such as Bush Tetras, Pere Ubu and Brian Brain. Years later, when the two reconvened in Louis' living room in 2005 to play music, they took the same approach to a new level, recording their guitar and bass spontaneously with Logic software, adding electronic sounds and crafting instrumental songs from first take sessions. The result became the material for Torso¹s debut release, "Percolatin' with Lucifer", on 2headed Records. - by Dub_Ninja
RADIOandMUSIC.com
MUMBAI: Aardvark Dance, along with Salem, Massachusetts-based bassist Louis Selvitella and guitarist Lee Leffler (better known as the production duo Torso), have teamed up for the release of the album "naked came the she squid" due out in September 2008.
Alex di Savoia, Head of Aardvark Dance, was on the lookout for ambient, chillout and downtempo producers when the album came across his desk. While discussing the album, di Savoia said: "Putting the whole Salem thing to one side, this album was perfect. The blend of jazz, broken beats and world sounds just grabbed me - an album for adults. It's the right mix of polished with moments of rough edges. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
This second release from Torso is an electronica/jazz/alternative hook-infested sound offering, featuring twelve instrumental songs of first-take guitar and bass improvisations, layered with an assortment of fantastic electronic sounds and beats. Just about everything has a mysterious quality that is hard to pin down but is so appealing - a bit of exotica, Eastern music influence, lounge, and minor keys. The 12 tracks don't stagnate or merge into one sound. It's a journey to please from start to finish.
Combining jazz, pop, dance and electronica takes a certain amount of chutzpah. Torso's in-the-pocket grooves, slinky motifs and cosmic sound-scapes blur the lines between the aforementioned genres. Post-modern jazzsters and fans of Miles Davis' Doo Bop and Tutu will certainly dig the updated swing of "If You Prefer". The scintillating Latin flavour of "Herky" is further abetted by percolating conga beats and a series of adventurous acoustic/electric guitar call and response breaks. "Equilibrium" exudes the new cool most closely associated with Nicholas Payton and Roy Hargrove's most recent releases.
Louis and Lee met while in high school where they played in local bands together. Later they both attended classes at Berklee College of Music before forming the 1980's alternative band, Native Tongue, releasing two records on Boston independent label Modern Method and performing with bands such as Bush Tetras, Pere Ubu and Brian Brain. Years later, when the two reconvened in Louis' living room in 2005 to play music, they took the same approach to a new level, recording their guitar and bass spontaneously with Logic software, adding electronic sounds and crafting instrumental songs from first take sessions. The result became the material for Torso's debut release, "Percolatin' with Lucifer", on 2headed Records.
Advance CDs are available through in the US through Kunaki (www.kunaki.com) and in the UK and Europe through CDJShop (www.cdjshop.com). Downloads are available on iTunes, Amazon, Trackitdown and other major download services.
Instrumental Pavilion
TORSO have committed musical heresy with the release of "naked came the she squid" by everything that is held holy by jazz fans. Combining jazz, pop, dance and electronica without lyrics for anyone who will listen may seem like career suicide in a market already crowded with sound-alike albums. Well after my third spin of this wonderful album (playing as I type this), I am happy to report that "naked came the she squid" is a winner on many levels.
TORSO is bassist Louis Selvitella and guitarist Lee Leffler who grew up in a town north of Boston, MA. They both attended classes at Berklee College of Music before forming the 1980's alternative band Native Tongue, releasing two albums. From there the duo went on to perform with Bush Tetras, Pere Ubu and Brian Brian. It was during this period that Louis and Lee began to sharpen their creative saws by recording their improvisational sessions on cassette and picking out the interesting pieces to use as the basis for songs.
Flash forward to 2005 after years of wood shedding, Lee and Louis the same improvisational approach to a new level by recording their guitar and bass parts with Logic software. From there they added electronic sounds and ended up with enough material for their first release as TORSO called "Percolatin' With Lucifer" on 2headed Records. The album was a huge hit and got airplay around the world.
Released late in 2007, "naked came the she squid" is firmly anchored by a high energy, groove heavy, but tastefully downtempo release that wears all of its influences nicely on its sleeve. The hip cosmic soundscape that contains jazz, Latin, reggae, call and response voice work, Eastern influences and late night lounge is very addictive. Fans of world fusion, post modern jazz, or even house music will find this record very appealing. The broken beats and intermittent trumpet and congas add a nice touch.
Instrumental, relaxing and challenging enough without ruining whatever mood you want to set, "naked came the she squid" is a great soundtrack for home or the dance floor. Give these guys a holler on their site via the links section and let them know you like it by picking up a copy.
theDWARF.com.au
Lyrics are normally the main thing you take notice of when consuming a piece of music. If you cannot pallet music that does not deliver lead vocals to you straight up, then you should probably keep looking. If this is not a problem, and you are looking for something to listen to rather than the manufactured, over produced pop and rock that is packaged to sell well, not play well, then this undoubtedly interestingly named album by Torso could be for you. While it does include vocal work, usually it is not obvious or even possible to distinguish what is being said, however this does not seem to present any type of problem at all. The backing vocals (which are the only vocals) play as more of an instrument than as the flagship part of a song.
Also this album is doused in jazz influences, and wears those influences on its sleeves. And while it may be obvious, those who rarely listen to jazz will probably enjoy it nevertheless. Mainly because jazz is quite similar to listeners who are not fans, Torso however is far more experimental, if Radiohead is the purveyors of experimental rock in the modern era, then Torso are likewise with jazz music. Thats not to say jazz is the only influence on Naked Came the She Squid, there are subtle African beats and flutes that are reminiscent of nature documentaries. Even DJ-esque scratching appears from time to time. There are even influences and instruments that are hard to label, but while there are many different elements to the music, none of them are too loud or in-your-face. Rendering it perfect for background music and coffee shops. Unfortunately this is normally said of music as a bad thing, quite the contrary on this occasion. Torso's effort is perfect for relaxation, a nice car ride through the wilderness or when in the mood for something different but not sure what, then Naked Came the She Squid is perfect.
This is not an album that will be commercially successful and thus have singled pulled off it, it is one that is to be listened to as a whole, and appreciated as a body of art, and definitely not to be skipped through song by song. That in mind, there are certain tracks that stand out more than others, 'If You Prefer' has beautiful woodwinds and strings combined with splashy cymbols. Opener 'Bombay Speedster' sets the scene for the album with a unique combination of syth-tinged piano and ethereal beats. But as aforementioned this is an offering that needs to be appreciated in its entirety.
Perfect for so many occasions, and new music to so many people, Naked Came the She Squid, is as different as it is beautiful. - by crowden85
Bassline Magazine
At least one writer for Bassline Magazine is overly fond of lounging, the term being loosely defined as those hard-to-find moments for self-reflection and relaxation.
Listening to new music certainly adds pleasure to these moments. That's why BM's latest review of the group Torso's (2headed Records) second release ³Naked Came the She Squid² was a good way to escape from the mundane and triviality that colors any day of the week.
With Torso's disc making my Mac seem even more user-friendly, I had no trouble forgetting my surroundings, and It certainly gave me a mental musical aural massage.
The disc is clearly defined as easy listening, but I would argue that there is nothing easy about cleverly produced electronic/jazz with live guitar and bass.
The art of blending and bending jazzy grooves with contemporary beats can really take the wrong turn if left to amateur artists/musicians. It's key to note that Louis Selvitella and Lee Leffler take full advantage of having honed their musical chops beginning in high school and then with brief stints at Berklee's College of Music.
The duo's follow up to their 2005 seven-track project "Percolatin' with Lucifer" is more upbeat and is quite accessible. The 12 tracks don't stagnate or merge into one sound. It's a journey to please from start to finish.
Overall, the disc is danceable in the right surroundings and comes off as being not at all cheesy mall background filler. I envision this crew continuing to release quality music in the future. - by Wang Howe
Electrone (original)
Il y a 2 ans, le premier essai du duo Torso intitulé "Percolatin' with Lucifer" avait titillé notre attention comme un nouveau groupe au talent certain sorti de nulle part. Dans une démarche expérimentale, ces amis de longue date enregistrent des sessions improvisées a base de cordes, en y ajoutant des phases électroniques et instrumentales faites a la main pour former un produit jazz et electronica spontané.
Dès le lycée, Louis Selvitella et Lee Leffler, respectivement bassiste et guitariste, jouent dans plusieurs groupes locaux alternatifs tout en inscrivant leurs premières improvisations sur bandes. Ces américains pompent leurs influences dans les scènes alternatives de Berklee ou Boston, en laissant traîner une oreille du côté de la scène jazz contemporaine. Même manière de procéder pour ce second album, beaucoup plus abouti, et ne laissant plus du tout une sensation d¹inachevé, risque numéro 1 lié à ces méthodes de travail.
La guitare conductrice et les cuivres du morceau d¹ouverture « Bombay speedster » posent d¹entrée un goût sucré sur la langue. Si vous préférez les percus jazzy, le bien nommé « if you preferŠ » est la brillante démonstration d¹un morceau qui se retient de partir pour finalement lâcher sa rythmique house tant attendue. Aux côtés de quelques plages lounges améliorées (« Noko », « At the sloan », « Hammer and chiseler »), des tracks inventifs fusent, comme « Herky », où le charley semble marcher à reculons, « On top of old crazy » et son beat hardhouse, ou « Ultraviolet weekend », aux ambiances jazz-club métallique et futuriste !
- Auteur : tweek
Electrone (translated)
2 years ago, the first test of the duo Torso "Percolatin 'with Lucifer" had titillated our attention as a new group with some talent out of nowhere. In an experimental approach, these old friends improvised recording sessions based ropes, adding phases of electronic and instrumental done by hand to form a spontaneous jazz and electronica.
Since high school, Louis Selvitella and Lee Leffler, bassist and guitarist, respectively, are playing in several local groups alternative while placing their first improvisations on tape. These Americans are pumping their influences in scenes alternatives Berklee or Boston, leaving behind a ear on the side of the contemporary jazz scene. Even how to proceed with this second album, much more successful, and leaving most of all a feeling of frustration, No. 1 risk associated with these procedures.
The conductive guitar and the brass opening of the song "Bombay" speedster pose input a sweet taste on the tongue. If you prefer jazzy percussion, well named "if you prefer..." is a brilliant demonstration of a song that is going to retain finally releasing its long-awaited rhythmic house. Along with a few improved beach loungers ( "Noko," At the sloan, "Hammer and chiseler"), the inventive tracks burst, as "Herky", which seems charley walk backwards, "On top of old crazy" hardhouse and beat her, or "Ultraviolet weekend," that sounds like jazz club metallic and futuristic! - Auteur : tweek
Amplifier Magazine
Combining jazz, pop, dance and electronica is a dangerous game. Some succeed mightily in the pop realm, such as Portishead, Seal, Everything But The Girl, and Air. Many fail - just tune into your local Lite FM/Smooth Jazz station. Others suffer the slings of close-minded critics and fans (Herbie Hancock). The instrumental duo Torso (bassist Louis Selvitella and guitarist Lee Leffler - both distinguished Berklee alums) are firmly entrenched in the former category with the understated yet enchanting Naked Came The She Squid. Torso's in-the-pocket grooves, slinky motifs and cosmic sound-scapes blur the lines between the aforementioned genres. Post-modern jazzers and fans of Miles Davis' Doo Bop and Tutu will certainly dig the updated swing of "If You Prefer" - though this is no blow fest as the focus is on the ensemble and not the individual. The scintillating Latin flavor of "Herky" is further abetted by percolating conga beats and a series of adventurous acoustic/electric guitar call and response breaks. "Equilibrium" exudes the new cool most closely associated with Nicholas Payton and Roy Hargrove's most recent releases - that being a bitches brew (pun intended) of melody and rhythm. Naked... comes highly recommended for fans of Marcus Miller, Weather Report, Zawinul Syndicate, Manu Dibango, and Hugh Masekela. - Tom Semioli
Properly Chilled Magazine
Naked Came the She Squid" is the second release by Torso, the Boston duo of bassist Louis Selvitella and guitarist Lee Leffler. It's electronica with a jazz base whose songs are anchored by guitar (often acoustic), bass, and drum samples. The rhythm is largely influenced by broken beat patterns, but generally varied and joined by loops, many being sax or trumpet with a few voice snippets on top, and occasional keyboard flavorings.
There is some nice melodic and funky stuff here, though one drawback is that everything is based in four-beat measures, which makes some of the tunes less interesting.
On the other hand, just about everything has a mysterious quality that is hard to pin down but is so appealing - a bit of exotica, Eastern music influence, lounge, and minor keys. It's a late night sort of feel with a lot of bongos and a cool title that's well worth a listen. - Dave Howell
